Window-screen.



A. H. MIX.

WINDOW SCREEN.

APPLICATION FILED snmxzs, 1911.

Patented July 8, 1913.

Attest 'UNKTE STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ALLEN HOWARD MIX, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO PAUL R. HOWARD, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, AND ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM C. BIDDLE, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y.

WINDOW-SCREEN.

Application filed September 28, 1911.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern lie it. known that T, Annex llo .vlth Mix, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, county of Norfolk, and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVindow-Screens, fully described and re n'esented in the t ol lowing specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part oi the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in extension screens used 't'or protecting openings such as windows, etc., oi that class in which there is employed a two-part i rame, the members oi. which are slidably connected so that they can be extended or collapsed to accommodate openings ol? varying dimensions.

.\n object of the present invention is to provide a device which shall be simple and inexpensive, whereby the sliding sections of the screen are so connected together as to allow them to be freely moved back and forth, but which will automatically act to hold them securely in position when they have been adjusted as desired.

a. further object of the invention is to provide such a construction which may be easily andv quickly assembled, which will compensate for warping or any slight vie riation in the sections due to detects in cut ting out. or machining the parts, and which shall be concealed when in position.

llith these objects in view, the invention consists generally .inv providing a tlexihle holding device which located between the sliding rails of the frame of the screen, which secures these rails slidingly together, but at the same time exerts a sutlicient pressure to hold the rails in position when they have been extended or collapsed to the desired position, a suli icient number of these holding devices being provided to ett'ect the desired result.

For a fuller uiulerstainling oi? the inven tion, a detailed description of the same will be given in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a face view oi a screen with which the invention is adapted to he used; Fig. 2 is a view on an enlarged scale oi a portion oi one of the pairs of side rails of the screen, the upper rail being broken away to show the construction and positioning ol. one of the holding devices; Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 33 of Fig. 2,, showing the Specification of Letters Patent.

.latented July 8,1913.

Serial No. 651,680.

holding device in position, and Fig. 4. is a. detail perspective view of one preferred lT Ul'lli oi the holding device.

:ltel'erring now to these drawings, the invention is shown in connection with an extension window screen, though it may he used in other relations. The screen shown is a two-part screen made up of sections A, 13. Each of these sections comprises end rails 1. of suitable material, as wood. and side rails I), the latter being arranged to lap over on zach other and having a sliding movement with respect to each other. Cross pieces or rails -toi. suitable material, as thin metal, shaped to prevent ingress ot insects are provided, secured near the ends oi the side rails and extend across from one to the other, and suitable netting 5, is secured in any desired manner to the end and side rails and the cross pieces.

The holding devices For slidahly connecting the side rails together may be varied somewhat in construction. They will, however, he so constructed as to have a certain degree oi flexibility in order to compensate i'cr any slight detect. in the side rails due to warping, or iiormed in cutting out, and so as to hav! a holding or clamping action, so that. they will automatically operate to clamp the rails together when they have been slid or moved to the desired position, and yet permit them to he ireely moved when it is desired to change 0- adjust the positions. To obtain the desired clamping action, in the best constructions there are provided a plurality of these holding or clamping devices, one being provided at or near the end of each ol? the side rails 2, 3, these holding devices being indicated gen erally by the numeral 7, (see dotted lines Fig.

Where a plurality oi the holding devices are employed, they will be similar in construction, and a description of one oi? them will sutlice for all. In the preferred form, each oi the devices includes a plate 8 made oi thin metal shaped as shown in :lfiig. 4, and in cross section as shown in Fig. 3, and is provided with a ilat portion 9 and side pieces or wings 10, 1]. extending obliquely from the portion 9. The side rails 2, 3 on each side of the irame are provided with inclined grooves '12, 13 which are adapted to receive the side wings 10, 11 of the plate 8 and slide thereon. The plate thus acts to slidingly connect the rails 2, 3 on each side of the frame with a dove-tail connection. To cause the plate to act to clamp the side rails 2, 3 on each side of the frame together automatically when they are moved to the desired position, and to permit of a certain degree of flexibility, for the reasons pointed out, means are'provided which in the preferred construction comprise a spring 1 1 which is or may be of wire. This spring 14 is seated in. suitable oppositely facing slots 15 provided in the rails 2, 3 and one of the free ends 16 of the spring extends through a suitable aperture in the portion 9 of the plate and bears against this portion. The spring thus bearing against the portion 9 of the plate tends to force the wings 10, 11 against the walls of the grooves 12, 13 of the rails with a clamping action and ef fects a connection of the rails together, and at the same time is sufficiently flexible to permit the rails to be slid along the wings of the plate when it is desired to change the position of the frame, and also sufficiently flexible to compensate for any slight defects in the rails. Preferably, in the best constructions, the spring 14: is so dimensioned and arranged as to exert a side pressure against the walls of the grooves 15, this side pressure effecting a further clamping action and holding the sections in position after they have been moved as desired. To prevent the plate and spring from getting out of position, the other free end of the spring 17 is extended into a hole 18 formed in one of the side rails and is thus held in position and prevented from sliding independently of the rails as they are moved. Vith this construction of clamping plate, the side rails are held together, but at the same time they are permitted to be freely slid to adjust the frames to any desired position within the limits of their extension. Such construction, furthermore, provides a very effectual joint, cheap to make, which is automatically clamped in position, which is easily operated, and in which no binding of the parts occurs. The joint is, furthermore, concealed from view, and presents a very neat and workmanlike construction.

Certain changes and variations may, of course, be made in the construction of the device without departing from the invention, which is, therefore, not limited to the precise construction shown and described.

What is claimed is 1. In an extension screen, the combination of a two-partframe each part comprising side rails having a sliding movement relatively to each other, grooves in each side rail, holding devices located in the grooves for securing the parts together and holding them in position, and wire springs yieldingly clamping the parts. 7

' 2. In an extension screen, the combination of a two-part frame each part comprising side rails having a sliding movement relatively to each other, grooves in each side rail, holding plates, positioned in the grooves and connecting the rails on each side of the frame, and springs acting to press the plates in the grooves and clamp the side rails in position.

3. In an extension screen, the combination of a two-part frame each part compris ing side rails having a sliding movement relatively to each other, grooves in each side rail, holding plates positioned in the grooves, and springs acting to press the plates in the grooves and clamp the side rails in position, the springs being held against endwise movement independently of the movement of the rails.

4:. In an extension screen, the combination with the side rails provided with grooves,

of holding plates in the grooves between the rails, and wire springs between the rails acting to press the plates into the grooves and yieldingly connect the rails. V

5. In an extension screen, the combination with the side rails provided with inclined grooves, of holding plates 7 having side wings 10, 11 located in the grooves, slots 15 in the rails, and wire springs located in the slots so as to lie between the rails and acting to press the plates into the grooves and yieldingly connect the rails.

6. In an extension screen, the combination with the side rails provided with inclined grooves, of holding plates 7 having wings 10, 11 located in the inclined grooves in the rails, slots as 15 in the rails, and wire springs located in the slots and having bearmg engagement with the sides of the slots for holding the rails yieldingly together.

7. In an extension screen, the combination with the side rails, of a dove-tail connection between the rails, and a wire spring yieldingly supporting the connection.

In an extension screen, the combination with the rails having inclined grooves, of a metal plate 7 forming a dove-tail connection between the rails, and a wire spring forming a yielding support for the plate.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALLEN I-IOIVARD MIX.

Witnesses 2 THEODORE S. GARRETT, Jr, JOHN GAHILL, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

